title: The sinus tarsi spacer in the operative treatment of flexible flat feet.
abstract: The results of operative treatment of 45 flexible flat feet (29 patients) using the sinus tarsi spacer are reported. Although radiological improvement in both the talar declination and the ground-navicular distance was found, our patients suffered from pain and functional impairment for an average period of 5 months. An unacceptably high rate of spacer dislocation was noted. Furthermore, the literature indicates spontaneous improvement as the natural history of flexible flat feet. We therefore no longer advise the sinus tarsi spacer as a routine treatment for flexible flat feet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital K.U. Leuven, Pellenberg, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Verheyden
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vanlommel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Der Bauwhede
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fabry
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molenaers
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000009:adverse effects; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005413:Flatfoot / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000473:pathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013380:Subtalar Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D013628:Talus / Q000473:pathology; D013639:Tarsal Bones / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology